Report: Toronto pursued Peavy

TORONTO -- The Chicago White Sox made no secret of their intent immediately at the end of the 2012 season to re-sign veteran pitcher Jake Peavy.

The Sox were successful in re-signing Peavy shortly before he was eligible to become a free agent by agreeing to terms on a two-year, $29 million contract.

That thwarted an attempt by Toronto to acquire Peavy, according to a report citing multiiple sources.

According to Toronto-based Sportsnet.ca, the Blue Jays had received clearance from ownership to add payroll. This would have allowed Toronto and the Sox to work out a deal in which the Sox would have picked up Peavy's $22 million option before trading him.

But the Sox never had any intention of trading Peavy. But they still were curious to see if they could get more value than a compensation pick - which they would have received had Peavy left for free agency.

What was unclear, however, is whether Peavy would have accepted a trade to Toronto since he had a no-trade clause in his previous contract. The clause in his original contract remained in effect even though Peavy consented to waive his no-trade rights to move to San Diego on July 31, 2009.

Coincidentally, Peavy told Sportsnet.ca that he didn't care about not having a no-trade clause in his current contract but that he didn't want to sign with a team and then get traded before becoming a free agent.

As it turned out, the Sox kept Peavy, and the Blue Jays later landed pitchers Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle and shortstop Jose Reyes in a blockbuster deal with Miami.